It is finally fall!! Which means, it is also football season! I wish I could say that I was a die-hard fan of some team, but that is so far from the truth. My dad played football for the University of Florida and is a huge fan, so I grew up with college football games always on. Just the sound of football on the tv makes me think of fall and childhood. I went to Louisiana State University (they even won the national championship my freshman year!!), but it still wasn't enough to convert me! Ha! But don't get me wrong, I fully support all of the festivities associated with the game. I am even on a fantasy team this year! I have no clue what I am doing, but I am on one! One of my favorite thin
Where do I even start with this girl?! She is a whole lotta sass and I love every inch of her! As soon as she realizes her photo is being taken, she turns. IT. ON. It cracks me up! Today Rosie Jane is turning five! I can't believe it. She is getting her favorite dinner (steak, brussel sprouts, and sweet potatoes) tonight and meeting up with some of her friends at her favorite park :-) If you follow me on snapchat (lbessette), you know I am always oversharing pics/videos of Rose. #sorrynotsorry I won't bore you with stories of Rosie's first swim, her first trick, or her first (and last, thank goodness) squirrel she murdered in cold-blood in our yard. I just wanted to share her adorable face a
Name Castillo de Monseran Varietal Garnacha Region Carinena Country Spain Year 2013 Price $7.99 Some weeks, wine Wednesday gets moved to wine Monday. This week is one of those weeks. First neuro exam is in the books and I am celebrating with this fun bottle of Garnacha! When I was working in the restaurant industry, I had this exact wine on my list and I sold it like hot cakes. Such an easy drinker. I remember the first time I tried it, the first thing that popped into my mind was black cherry kool-aid mix! I am telling you, I come up with some random stuff when tasting...but try it and tell me that isn't exactly what it tastes like! So I don't want to mislead you and make you think this is
When you get to be on a first name basis with the Chipotle staff, it might be time to reevaluate some life decisions. There is one a block from my house, so on hardcore study nights it often seems like the only logical choice on where to eat. And it is just SO good. Funny story...last time I went to Chipotle, I was with my friend Molly and she spotted a Hanson brother (she has the best luck). This totally shows my age, but y'all, I was OBSESSED in grade school. So here we are, standing in line, two people behind Taylor Hanson. Molly goes to take a discreet snapchat, and BAM! Camera shutter goes off. Ha! Can't a guy just get a burrito in peace? Nope! Sorry, Taylor. Ok, so now that you know ab
Name Hopler Varietal Gruner Veltliner Region Burgenland Country Austria Year 2014 Price $14.98 Here is a wine that I find myself pulling out a lot for dinner parties. Light, zesty, and it can really stand up to some strong flavors. Gruner Veltliner, mainly produced in Austria, is a dry white wine known for its acidity, citrus notes, and green-ness (probably not a word, but think grass, green beans, etc.). The herbaceous quality of this wine is often described as white pepper. Did I lose you on all the weird descriptive words? Next time you go for a glass of wine, before taking a sip, use your nose and really think about what all is going on in the glass. Then take a sip and see if you taste
I have never met anyone who actually LIKES to study. There is nothing fun about it. Yes, I do love learning about things I am passionate about, but I always wish there was any easier way than spending hours in front of a computer screen or reading text books. I went to a high school that never really challenged me, so when I went to college, I had a major wake up call. I never learned how to study! My first semester was full of many tears and just not understanding how I made such good grades in high school but couldn't seem to get a decent grade to save my life in college. Throughout undergrad I did eventually learn how to study, but just enough to get by. I never really felt like I had mas
This past week was "Make Your Bed Week," which is a celebration and recognition of the positive effects of making your bed. I was raised in a house where the first thing we did after waking up was make our beds. For me, it signifies that the day is starting and there is no going back! I function better when things are in order, this includes my bedroom being clean and my being bed made :-) This weekend I finally caught up on some much needed housework. Like MUCH needed. I work really well on a "reward system" when doing things that are just no fun. Cleaning being one of those things. So I told myself that if I made the house spotless, I could reward myself with some fun new fall decor. This
I am the absolute worst about eating breakfast. I am an early riser (see post), usually setting my alarm for 5:00-ish, and I am just never hungry that early. I always regret the decision not to eat breakfast as soon as I get to school when my stomach growls all through lecture...just ask the people who sit next to me. Ha! I have been trying to get better about nourishing my body first thing in the morning, so I have been pinning healthy and easy breakfast ideas like crazy. I have always loved smoothies, so these acai bowls looked amazing! It is like a big bowl of healthy ice cream for breakfast. YES PLEASE! I have already made it multiple times this week, and once you have all the fruit cut
Name Dynamite Vineyards Varietal Merlot Region Central Coast, California Country USA Year 2013 Price $12.99 When was the last time you thought "man, I could really go for a glass of Merlot"? Probably never...unless you are 65+ and pouring it from a glass jug into a cup of ice. Or maybe that was just my sweet grandmother ;-) Back in the day, Merlot kind of got a bad rap after it become known as a low-quality, mass-produced wine. Truth is, Merlot is some really great stuff! It is quite the chameleon in the sense that it really changes its flavor profile depending on climate, soil type, and region. Warmer climate Merlots tend to be upfront with the cherry, raspberry, and cocoa. Tannins are ofte
Juggling it all can definitely be overwhelming, so I try to be creative when it comes to gaining balance in my life. During my first semester in medical school, I found myself becoming completely consumed in my studies and constantly feeling like I was missing out on all the fun. I knew going into school that I was going to have to make some sacrifices, especially when it came to my social life. The problem came when I noticed school coming before friends and family. I remember it was about half way through the fall semester and I cried because I couldn't throw Rosie a birthday party. No joke. I was sobbing because my dog could not have a proper 4th birthday celebration. I am telling ya, med
Risotto is a favorite around this house. It is the ultimate comfort food! Creamy, cheesy rice...be still my beating heart! So when Baxter requested mushroom risotto, I was quick to agree. I make this a lot when I have dinner parties because it is relatively inexpensive, deceivingly simply, and easy to make mass quantities. Bonus: you get a serious arm workout while making risotto! Let's get to cooking! Before I did anything, I put the beef broth in a sauce pan on simmer. I then added a couple pieces of chopped bacon in my pan. Because let's be honest, bacon fat makes everything taste better. Once the fat begins to liquify in the hot pan, I added the diced onion. After 2-3 minutes, the onions
Name Brazin Varietal Zinfandel Region Lodi, California Country USA Year 2013 Price $13.99 Oh Zinfandel, you are such a beautiful thing when you are not pink and sweet. This is one of my favorite varietals for those cold winter nights in front of the fire. I am clearly dreaming of cooler days as I crank my AC down to an unnatural temperature. But that is neither here nor there! So what does it mean to be an "old vine" Zinfandel? It simply means the vines are at least 50 years old. These older vines make wines that are bigger in flavor and intensity compared to their younger counterparts. If you are new to the world of Zins, you can expect a bold, jammy, and peppery wine that is typically rath
I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend! I spent mine on the bayou in Louisiana. I remember when I moved to Louisiana half way through my freshman year of high school, and it was the hardest transition EVER. My second day of school was "camouflage day" and my only piece of camo anything was a bandana that I tied around my purse handle. I showed up to school and people were head-to-toe camo, neck heavy with duck calls, and face paint to match. I ran to the bathroom and called my mom crying begging her to let us move back to Tulsa. I would have never in a million years guessed that I would now look forward to days spent in the swamp! I love trying new things, and this weekend it was shoo
I don't know about you, but I could eat Mexican food every single day. This last week, I pretty much did. No shame. Last night I made the "adult version" of a childhood favorite--- taquitos! This recipe is super easy and cheap! First, I cooked the chicken. You can definitely use a slow cooker to make the shredded chicken, but if you don't have that kind of time, just boil it! I put a pound of chicken thighs in a pot of boiling salted water for about 15 minutes or until cooked through. I then transferred them to a bowl and used two forks to shred the chicken. Then I added the salsa verde and chopped jalapeno. Mix it all up, and this is the filling for the taquitos. Preheat the oven to 400 deg
